What happens if I get into an accident in a company vehicle?
16 Sep

What happens if I get into an accident in a company vehicle?


Companies that employ individuals in roles where they are required to drive on the job are legally bound to to carry insurance and offer certain employee benefits. If you happen to be driving on company time and are injured in a car accident, you can be eligible to receive benefits whether you are the driver at fault or not. If someone else was responsible for the car/truck/auto accident additional claims can be available. Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, employers are responsible for the actions of employees performed within the course of their employment.

If a third-party is at fault for the accident, you may have the right to bring a claim against that driver or his or her insurance company. This is called a civil claim. A civil claim is filed if you sustained injuries due to negligence of another driver. In these cases you must be able to prove that the other driver was at fault.

Coordinating both of these cases with a competent attorney can be very helpful, especially due to the time crunch in which they must be filed. In the case of filing for workers’ compensation, claims should be filed within 24 hours. If this is not done, your employer may have a defense against your claim. Reach out to Carrillo and Carrillo if you have any questions about accidents that occurred while you were on the clock.